By NIKOLE JAVIER
Rookie Angge Poyos and sophomore Cassie Carballo delivered the lethal blows and University of Santo Tomas eked out five-set thriller over Ateneo, 25-15, 27-25, 23-25, 26-28, 15-13 to stay undefeated in the UAAP Season 96 women’s volleyball tournament on Wednesday night, March 20, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
League-leading server and setter Cassie Carballo led three players in double figures with 10 points highlighted by four service aces – two of which came in the crucial stretch on top of 26 excellent sets.
Poyos was as ruthless as ever, firing 22 points off 21 kills made and a single block.
Regina Jurado and Jonna Perdido also took turns in the closing set to finish witbh 19 and 17 markers, respectively, to help UST in the endgame.
The loss on the other side, however, dropped Ateneo further with a 2-6 slate in the standings.
Earlier, National University regained the respect of its rivals as the Lady Bulldogs turned back a feisty University of the Philippines, 25-21, 30-32, 25-17, 25-19.
The win – hard as it was – enabled the Lady Bulldogs to redeem themselves after a five-set loss to La Salle last week. They improved their record to 6-2.
Unlike in their first round encounter when the Lady Bulldogs were dominant from start to finish, this time they encountered stiff resistance from the Fighting Maroons.
UP even took the marathon second set that was marked long and fierce rallies.
Sophomore Vange Alinsug showed the way for the Lady Bulldogs with 24 points built on 20 attacks, one block and three service aces.
